Wheel cover



Dec. 23, 1958 A, LYON 2,865,681

A WHEEL COVER Filed April 24, 1956 J HVE ZUF GEoReE fl4 sem- Lya/v United States Patent WHEEL COVER George Albert Lyon, Detroit, Mich. Application April 24, 1956, Serial No. 580,404 6 Claims. (Cl. 301-37) A further object of the invention is to provide in a wheel structure of the wheel.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved inexpensive sheet metal stamping type of cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel hav-.

ing novel resilient cover retaining means engageable with retaining bumps on a wheel member.

. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodimentof the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is an outer side elevational view of a wheelstructure embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary radial sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

'Figure 3 is a substantial fragmentary enlargement of the wheel tire rim and the engaging portion of the cover showing in detail the cover retaining means; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail View taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

A cover 5 embodying features of the invention is adapted to be applied in snap-on pry-off relation to the outer side of a vehicle wheel which, may comprise a disk spider wheel body 7 carrying a tirerim 8 of the multi-flange type adapted to support a pneumatic tire 9. The tire rim 8 has an intermediate generally axially ex-. tending and radially outwardly sloping flange 10' which merges with a terminal flange 11.

In the present instance the cover 5 comprises a full disk cover, that is a cover that is adapted to substantially completely cover the outer side of the wheel including the tire rim and the wheel body and is made out of a single piece of material. However it should be noted that if desired the cover could comprise a trim ring that would cooperate with a central hub cap on the wheel.

In the present instance the cover 5 includes a central crown portion 12 for overlying the wheel body and joining on an annular indented dished portion 13 a radially outwardly and axially outwardly sloping marginal flange portion 14 which is adapted to overlie the tire rim and more particularly the intermediate flange 10 and the terminal flange 11. In the present instance in order to an improved snap-on pry-otf retaining. arrangement for maintaining a cover on the outerside r g 2,865,681 CQ Patented Dec. 23, 1958 pry-off relation with cover retaining bumps 18' which may be four in number equidistantly circumferentially spaced on the axially outer portion of the intermediate.

flange 10 and projecting generally radially inwardly with generally radially and axially inwardly facing undercut sloping retaining shoulders 19 on the bumps. To this end, the cover is provided with bump engaging shoulder means comprising an annular turned, offset generally. radially and axially outwardly sloping shoulder 20 formed.

on the radially inner portion of'the marginal cover POI-1: tion 17 adjacent juncture thereof with the indented intermediate portion 13 of the cover. The spacing of the shoulder 20 from the seat rib 15 is such that when the seat rib 15 engages the tire rim, the shoulder 20 will be disposed in cover retaining relation to the retaining bump I shoulders 19.

In order to accommodate the radially inwardly projecting nose portion of the retaining bumps 18, the cover is provided at the axially outer side of the cover retaining shoulder'2t] with radially inwardly pressed bump receiving pockets 21. These pockets are defined at circumferentially opposite sides thereof by respective shoulder walls 22 which are adapted in assembly with the wheel to oppose the opposite sides of the respective retaining bumps 18 for thereby holding the cover against turning on the wheel and thereby avoiding distortion of a valve stem 23 which projects through a suitable vvalve stemaperture 24 in the intermediate cover portion erally convergently related toward the reinforcing rib l5 and extend at their axially outer ends from adjacent to i such seat and reinforcing rib 15 to divergent axially inner ends that extend into the intermediate cover portion 13. This alfords generally, axially extending relatively flexibly resilient cover retaining portions 27 containing the bump receiving pockets 21 and bump engaging respective transversely extending portions 'of the shoulder 20. By preference the diameter described about" the shoulder20 is slightly less than the diameter of the, axially outer portion of the intermediate flange 10, but

greater than the diameter about the tips of the retaining bumps 18. Therefore, when the cover is pressed axially inwardly into retaining engagement with the wheel, and more particularly to snap the shoulder portions on the flexible pocket carrying resilient strips 27 over the retaining bumps 18, the shoulder portions 20 on the strips 27 will engage under camming axially inwardly drawn tension with the retaining bump shoulders 19. Thereby firm gripping of the retaining bumps 18 is assured and also firm drawing of the seating shoulder rib 15 against the tire rim is assured.

For removing the cover from the wheel, a suitable pry-off tool such as a screwdriver is insertedinto the gap between the turned extremity flange 17 of the cover and the terminal flange 11 and pry-oft force applied to resiliently snap the retaining shoulder portions 20 of the 3 flexibly resilient strips 27 out of engagement from the retaining bumps 18. It may be noted that ifadditional pry-01f force is needed, thepry-ofi tool can be inserted behind the reinforcing and seating shoulder 15 Wbidl may, serve as an additional pry-oil shoulder,

It will be understood'that modifications and variaa tionsmay be effected without departing frorn the scope.

qfthenovel concepts of :the present ,invention.

I claim as my invention: i I

1. In a wheel structure including awheel'part having retaining bumps projecting therefrom, a cover for disposition at the outer side of the wheel including a circular HQIW LY S t n iall S lt p r ion fo pp s ng said.

including a circular portion thereof for opposition to. said bumps and having respective bump receiving pockets.

defined at their axially inner side by shoulders, engageable with the retaining bumps, said pockets being on resiliently deflectable portions of said circular cover portion partially separatedtherefrom to enhance the deflec-v tability thereof, said, partially separated portions comprising strap-like sections connected to the cover at their.

axially inner and outer ends and separated at the sides,

with said sides flaringly related so, that the. widest and. thereby stitfest portions thereoi areat the axially inner.

Part. hereof.

' 3,. In a cover for disposition at the outer sideof a.

vehicle Wheel, a cover body having agenerally axially extending annular portion for disposition opposite a wheel.

parthavingretaining bumps, said cover portion having retaining shoulder structure thereon, said retaining shoulder structure beingseparated along generally axially.

extending lines from the remainder of said cover portion but connected at axially inner and-outer ends with the coverso as to be of enhanced resilient defiectability rela tive to the remainderof the cover, said separatedportions. including bump receiving pockets defined at their axially.

inner sides by bump engaging shoulders.

4. In a cover for disposition at the outer side, of a vehicle wheel, a circular cover n emberhaving. a circular normally stiff and generally axially extending portion, 7 said portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced r ps ext ad nsa e ll ax a ly dconn ctecl. int gral y n, one. ie e tli aid. Port on. t. the. x a y inner. nd.

outer ende Girl strips, but. eparatedfremihe. em n:

en. he pprtiq lo h circumferenti side. e ges.

5 1 ri s ea h. q saidstt p hav ng he e aa oc et efin d. t' ts x a ly: na rsi by ssner v xia y 1 1.1

wardly facing shoulder for snap-on, pry-01f interengagement with a retaining projection on a wheel, with the strip being resiliently radially defiectable for snapping into or out of engagement with the retaining projection.

5. In a wheel structure including a tire rim having generally radially inwardly projecting cover retaining projections provided with generally axially and radially inwardly facing cover retainingshoulders, a cover for disposition at the outer side of the wheel including a generally axially extending portion of a diameter larger than said retaining projections and said cover portion being of a normal substantial stiffness, said portion having areas thereof opposing said projections connected integrally with the cover at .axially inner and outer ends and separated from said cover portion along generally axially extending lines to provide resilient strap-like portions that are resiliently radially defiectable, each of said strap-like portions havinga cover retaining shoulder thereonengageable under resilient tension with the retaining shoulderof the opposing' projection, and the cover having a portion thereof engageable with the Wheel to define the axially inwarddisppsition thereoffor thereby retaining said strap-like portionshouldersunder tensioned engagement with the projection shoulders and deflected radially.

inwardly relative to the remainder of thecircular cover- Po i n.

6. In a wheel structure including av tire rim having gen-.

erally radially inwardly projecting cover retaining pr0.-.

jections provided with generally axially and radially inwardly facing cover retaining shoulders, a cover for1disposition at theouter, side of the wheel including,a gen-o erally axially extending portion of a diameter larger than:

said retaining projections. andsaid cover portion being of 'a normalsubstantial stiffness, said portions having areas thereof opposing. said. projections, connectedintegrally with; the cover, at axially. inner and outer ends and sep. aratedfrom said cover portionalong generally axially extend nglines to provide. resilient strap-like portions that are resiliently radially deflectable, each of said, strap-.like-- portions having acover retaining shoulder thereon engage-- bleunder esili nt tension wi h the r t ining shoulder of; the opposing projection, and the cover having a portion:

thereof engageable withthe wheel to define the axially inward disposition thereof for thereby retaining said.

strap-like portion shoulders .under tensioned engagement with the projection shoulders and deflected radially 1nwardly relative to the remainder of the circular cover por- References, Cited inthefile of this. patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

